She exhaled softly, the gentle smile returning to her face. Shaking her head, her tone lightened. "Well, as long as you're okay."
The Mind Perception Skill could sense the faint fear in Jiang Churan's heart, yet it was overshadowed by her worry for Jiang Cheng.
Jiang Cheng never gave her fear a second thought; after all, she was perfectly normal.
They say keeping company with a sovereign is as perilous as living with a tiger—wasn't a little fear only natural?
Besides, concern outweighed fright, and that was more than enough.
Moments later, the dark nights sound's roar swept in from afar, a black beast bursting into the urban jungle, screeching to a halt beneath the glittering porte-cochère of the Mirage Bar.
The butterfly doors lifted like angelic wings, instantly becoming the visual center of the entire entrance.
The hostesses who had been hugging their coats against the cold, eyes roaming for potential clients, were suddenly ablaze with interest, like bees catching the scent of nectar.
"My god… that car… it's Young Master Jiang's, right? He's actually coming to our bar tonight!"
"I heard he's handsome and shoots far. If I could get on his table, this freezing shift would be worth it…"
"What, really that wild? Which girl told you? Sounds like pure bliss…"
"Hey, didn't you see the New Year's video from OT? He sprayed ace of spades everywhere—people in the booths got drenched…"
"…"
Whispers and scorching stares wove into an invisible net, locking onto Jiang Cheng as he stepped out of the driver's seat.
No one tracks the movements of these Second-generation rich kids faster than the Atmosphere Group girls stationed at every club—except, of course, the social climbers.
Whoever buys a new ride or shows up with a fresh super-car, the news rockets through their group chats, becoming shared currency.
Jiang Cheng casually tossed the keys to the valet, who had jogged over and bowed ninety degrees.
It was as if he were flipping away a cheap toy, not a hyper-car worth hundreds of millions.
Without even glancing at the women firing off flirtatious glances, he circled to the passenger side, gently helped the immaculately dressed Jiang Churan out, and naturally slipped an arm around her slender waist.
The warm pressure of Jiang Cheng's hand at her waist made Jiang Churan's cheeks flush as her gaze swept the familiar yet foreign scene.
She remembered her first—and only previous—visit to a club.
Back then she'd trailed behind Shen Shuang like a sparrow that had blundered into a gilded cage.
She'd nervously watched the flashing neon, the drifting alcohol, the roaming eyes sizing her up.
Though her face had stayed calm, inside she'd been at a total loss, convinced she didn't belong in this decadent world.
Now, under the same glaring lights and raucous voices, everything felt utterly different.
The valet bowed almost servilely; the hostesses murmured with mingled jealousy and desire.
The stares that once unsettled her had turned to admiration and envy, all fixed on her and Jiang Cheng.
She realized for the first time that all her poise, the complete reversal in attitude, came from the man beside her—from the arm casually circling her waist.
Nearby, Shen Shuang's white Ferrari had just pulled in.
Shen Shuang and Xu Yan stepped out in time to see Jiang Cheng open the passenger door and draw Jiang Churan into the spotlight.
Watching her roommate—who had once needed constant reassurance—stand blushing yet radiant at the center of attention, Shen Shuang felt a pang of disbelief.
Only recently, Jiang Churan had been the timid girl clinging to her at clubs.
Now she owned the gaze of the entire entrance.
Shen Shuang glanced instinctively at Xu Yan.
Xu Yan's smile stayed polite, but a flicker of complicated emotion crossed her eyes.
"Let's go," Shen Shuang said, recovering her usual composure, and led Xu Yan forward.
Shen An, who'd been hovering by the door, eyes locked on the arriving cars, bolted the instant the door lifted.
"Brother Cheng! Sis! You're finally here! This way—everything's ready!"
He half-turned, playing the role of an imperial eunuch showing the way.
Jiang Cheng laughed and swore, "What's with you? One minute gone and you've time-traveled into a chief steward…"
Shen An straightened proudly. "Time-travel? Then I've got to be Cao Cao, the kingmaker!"
He leaned in with a grin. "Of course, you're the emperor, and I'm your conquering general—let's 'pacify' this venue!"
Jiang Cheng tightened his arm around Jiang Churan and snorted. "Cao Cao? So I get to be the puppet Emperor Xian? If anything, I'm Emperor Gaozu of Han."
Shen An slapped his forehead. "Right, right—look at me, drunk on attention before a single drop of booze…"
He'd barely finished when Shen Shuang and Xu Yan appeared behind them.
"Big shot, if you're Emperor Gaozu, who is Chu Ran?"
Xu Yan, hugging her heaving chest, added, "It has to be Lady Qi. But with your popularity, our Lady Qi here will be busy fending off rivals."
Instead of letting go, Jiang Cheng pulled Jiang Churan even closer.
"Jealous? My Chu Ran isn't like you two, and the competition's nothing but rejects—why worry?"
Feeling the warmth of his hand at her waist, Jiang Churan's cheeks blazed crimson.
She smiled. "I really'm not worried…"
Their smiles faltered, and genuine envy glimmered in Shen Shuang's and Xu Yan's eyes.
Even Shen An clicked his tongue—Brother Cheng's move was flawless.
"Ranran, you've changed…"
"Ugh, I'm gonna be sick before I even start drinking…"
Laughing and teasing, they walked into the club.
Once inside, the incoming roar seemed filtered by an invisible barrier.
It wasn't the main-hall clamor, but the private corridor's subtler soundtrack.
To greet them wasn't a mere sales manager, but one of Mirage's owners, a man everyone called Brother Long.
He wore a tailored Mandarin-collar shirt and a sandalwood bracelet of rare quality, looking more like a tycoon than a nightlife operator.
He hurried straight toward them, clearly in a rush.
Spotting Jiang Cheng, he broke into a smile. "Young Master Jiang, Young Master Shen, ladies—welcome, welcome. Sorry for the wait; your table is ready."